Jury reaches verdict for 1 former Marine convicted of killing couple

Jurors have reached a verdict for one of the three former Marines convicted of killing a Riverside County couple five years ago.

But their decision on whether Kevin Cox, 25, will receive the death penalty or life in prison without parole will not be revealed until a second jury panel reaches a decision for the two other men convicted in the brutal 2008 murders.

Judge Christian Thierbach sealed Cox's verdict Friday, after the panel of 12 jurors announced they had reached a decision inside the Riverside Superior Courthouse.

Jurors for Miller and John are scheduled to return to court Monday to hear testimony in their portion of the defendant's penalty phase.

On June 5, 2013, Emrys John, 23, Tyrone Miller, 25, and Kevin Cox, were found guilty two counts of first-degree murder. Jurors also also found true the special circumstances of murder during the commission of a robbery, during the commission of a burglary and multiple murders.

Their victims, Marine Sgt. Jan Pietrzak, 24, and Quiana Jenkins-Pietrzak, 26, were found murdered on Oct. 15, 2008 inside their home in the unincorporated community of Winchester. They were bound with tape and had been shot in the head.

Quiana Jenkins-Pietrzak was raised in Ontario, went to Ayala High School and was a graduate student at Cal State San Bernardino when she was killed.

Deputy District Attorney Daniel DeLimon said the defendants went to the home to rob the couple. They forced their way inside, physically assaulted the man, sexually assaulted the woman and then murdered both.

The Riverside County District Attorney is seeking the death penalty for all of the defendants.

A fourth defendant in this case, Kesaun Sykes, 26, is expected to start his trial in August.